by Heather Plett | Apr 24, 2007 | gifts from Marnie
Marnie, I must have subconsciously known that your package would arrive today, because I colour-coordinated my clothes this morning in anticipation. PLUS I died my hair a lovely complimentary shade of red. I am NOTHING if not committed to my blog friends (and their loot)! Go ahead – send me a gift! I’ll die my hair, I’ll buy a matching skirt at Value Village – I’ll do ANYTHING for free loot!
I’ve already found SO many uses for this… um… lovely scarf. The head-dress, the shawl, the babushka… those are just the beginning!
It also serves well as a sun-shade, a mirror accent, clothing for my naked giraffe, a lampshade to set the mood…
Maddie rounded the corner while I was taking the head-dress photo and said “What the….!” Her unfinished sentence spoke volumes. But then, she couldn’t resist getting in on the fun, and she discovered several other uses. A skirt (otherwise known as something to hide her ever-present butt-crack), a baby-carrier for Joe the monkey, and long hair when she’s playing dress-up.
Some other reactions in my household…
Julie picked it up gingerly, like it was a dead animal carcass, and gave it a sneer and then looked at me like I’d lost my mind.
Marcel picked it up, wrapped it around himself and asked, “Is it… um… something sexual?”
by Heather Plett | Apr 24, 2007 | Uncategorized
After a fun, spur-of-the-moment overnight trip here with some good friends for some of this…
and some of this…
I went thrift-store shopping for some of this…
and picked up a Spring wardrobe of nearly new clothes (3 shirts, 3 skirts, and one pair of pants) for what I would have paid for any one of those things new. About $30 for all of it! Yay! (Oh – and for those who asked – that’s the second-hand couch my kids declared as ugly, but I’m rather fond of. It’s growing on them.)
When I can spend time with my kids and some of my closest friends, and THEN replenish my wardrobe in about an hour for so little money, I DEFINITELY feel lucky.
by Heather Plett | Apr 20, 2007 | random, Spring
At about 5:00 this morning, Maddie came into our room rather tearful and said “I figured out that I was sleeping under the bed, and now I can’t find Joe Banana.” I went to her room to help find her monkey and sure enough – her blanket was under the bed where she must have been curled up for some unknown reason. Joe Banana, however, had decided he prefered the top of the bed. Right next to his friend Lily the Bear.
I missed portfolio night at school on Tuesday because I had work commitments. Last night, Nikki went through her portfolio with me. Under “Books I’ve read on my own recently”, she had “Hanna’s suitcase, Hitler’s Childhood, Biography of Ghandi, Biography of Princess Diana, and Biography of Albert Einstein”. Do you get the sense that this girl takes after her dad in the “history buff” department? Yup, it’s true. Smile. “Mom,” she said incredulously, “most of my friends don’t even know who Ghandi is!”
The weather has been absolutely incredible here this week. Happy sigh.
Tomorrow is my mom’s birthday. I’d like to get her something – sort of a peace offering to say “I really DO like you even though I don’t always act like it”, but I have no idea what to get. My sister wrote a lovely post about her.
Maybe it has something to do with Spring arriving, but I have this sudden urge to rearrange furniture. I think I’ll start with my office today. It’s a little crowded now that my bike is parked next to my desk.
I hate it when I hear that someone’s been belittling my children. Julie’s a strong girl, but some of the things that have been said to her by a respected grownup lately would make even an adult want to cry. I’m struggling with what to do about it.
I went to a friend’s art show opening yesterday. She paints wonderful colourful landscapes and florals, but my favourite pieces of hers are the art quilts (hers is the third one). There’s something about textile art that draws me in. I went home and wanted to make something with fabric. But by the time I responded to all of the needs and wants of my children, I was way too tired.
This one’s mostly for my siblings…
by Heather Plett | Apr 19, 2007 | biking, prayer
It has been SO good to be back on my bike this week. As I rode beside the river on my way to work this morning, I reflected on how spiritual it feels for me to be on a bike. I’ve always felt that biking is a prayerful time for me, but this morning it occurred to me that my bike rides are not so much WHEN I pray as much as they ARE prayer, in and of themselves.
It’s not that I start my rides with “Dear God” or make my way through a list of prayer requests. It’s more like I feel connected to the spirit while I ride. The pedaling, the sunshine, the crunch of the tires, the sweat on my brow, the exertion of my muscles, the feel of the handlebars in my grip, the taste of the cool water when I’m thirsty – it all feels meditative and prayerful to me.
Often, my most inspired thoughts visit me while I ride. The spirit breath whispers in my ear and awakens my creativity.
I’ve missed that, in those long cold months of winter.
